Composer of TSA's Fall Musical Awarded
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29th, 2015
COMPOSER OF TSA’S UPCOMING MUSICAL AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA CELEBRATED FOR IN THE HEIGHTS & HAMILTON
TOLEDO, OH- As the young thespians of Toledo School for the Arts prepare to present the Toledo-area debut of the acclaimed In The Heights musical on Thursday, the composer of the work is being celebrated in New York as a newly announced MacArthur Fellow.
“The timing could not be more exciting,” explained David Saygers, TSA’s Artistic Director. “I knew this was a stand-out show that our young actors would be very proud to present. The MacArthur designation only affirms our choice for the 2015 Fall Musical, and Lin-Manuel Miranda certainly deserves this outstanding accolade,” furthered Amelia Lefevre, TSA theatre teacher and director of the show.
The list of those chosen as 2015 MacArthur Fellows also includes tap dancer and choreographer Michelle Dorrance, set designer Mimi Lien and puppet artist and director Basil Twist.
Awarding unrestricted fellowships to individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits as well as a capacity for self-direction, the fellowship includes a $625,000 stipend, which is paid in quarterly installments over five years.
TSA presents the first run of In The Heights in the Toledo area beginning this Thursday, October 1st. Thursday, Friday and Saturday the production runs at 7pm, while the Sunday, October 4th show is a 2:30pm matinee. Tickets are moving quickly through the TSA Box Office. Prices run $16 for Adults and $10 for Students/Seniors, available by calling 419-246-8732x226. All performances take place at Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts, and TSA is proud to have Theater League sponsor the show, and media sponsor as The Blade.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer, lyricist and star of the acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton was named among winners of the 2015 grants from the MacArthur Foundations, which are aptly nicknamed “Genius” Grants.
35-year-old Miranda won multiple Tony Awards for his Broadway debut In the Heights, drawing on his upbringing in the Latino Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. It took him more than six years to develop Hamilton, a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural take on "the ten-dollar founding father without a father," Alexander Hamilton.
"It can be a challenge to present a show that's new to area audiences, but Miranda's work is very popular right now, and the award really acknowledges that he's a great writer. We're very pleased to be introducing his first show in Toledo." concluded Saygers.
Press Release Contact Name: Lindsay Williams
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 4192468732
Organization Name: Toledo School for the Arts
Website or Link: www.ts4arts.org
Organization Address: 333 14th Street, Toledo, OH, 43604